Get Pumped

The contestants at Universe Weekend are here to flex

Bona fide bodybuilders take years to perfect their craft  and their craft is their physique. Carving bulging biceps where arm flab used to be, sculpting a six-pack from the remainders of a beer belly, and turning a badonkadonk into buns of steel takes persistence, unshakable confidence, and -- of course  great strength. Especially now that childhood obesity is such a hot-button topic, the buff men and women participating in this years Universe Weekend are to be commended for their self-control and success in defying the rest of our fast-food nation. Besides admiring their discipline, were loving the (lack of) costumes. These events are all about eye candy, and theres nothing wrong with that either.

Therell be no shortage of gigantoid hunks and buff babes in the city this weekend. Some of bodybuildings fittest and finest will be competing for titles like Musclemania Superbody and Ms. Bikini Universe. Also, oddly, the event ends with a hip-hop b-boy battle. Sweet! It all kicks off today with the Model Universe and Fitness Universe pageants, which will take place simultaneously at 7:00 p.m. in the Ashe Auditorium at the James L. Knight Center. A one-day pass costs $35, and the VIP three-day pass runs $100. Call 888-770-9000 or visit www.universeweekend.com.
June 22-24